William Street Neighborhood Festival approaching fast

Tuesday

The third-annual William Street Neighborhood Festival is fast approaching and organizers are finalizing plans for what promises to be a bigger and better event than years past.

"We have been blessed by growing crowds and participants and beautiful weather. This year promises to be even better, we have many more committed exhibitors and performers," a note to festival volunteers stated.

The Sept. 15 festival will also be geographically larger this year, with the footprint of the festival will expand this year to include Eighth Street from William to Union. Organizers are also expanding festival hours with fun on tap from noon to 6 p.m.

"The space available for vendors is going fast," organizers said. Vendors cannot hold space until they pay $10 deposit (returned day of event), which can be dropped off at Gallery X, located at 169 William St.

The official festival poster was also recently unveiled. It was designed by Sherri Hamel.

"In the small world department Sherri designed the cover for the Standard Times pullout (Before Coastin') in August 1990 for the 'Heritage Days Festival,'" organizer Charles Hauck stated. "We had organized a schooner race and land festival celebrating New Bedford's waterfront area and our Historic Schooner the Ernestina. The very first 'Public Hanging' happened that weekend [at Gallery X] as part of the festivities and we have been here ever since."

On tap for this year's festival, there will also be food trucks and exhibitors and musicians in the City Hall Parking Lot.

"The Festival is a celebration and collaboration between the 3 Church buildings, the First Unitarian Church, the First Baptist Church, The First Universalist Church (Gallery X)," a release about the festival stated. "Although their past as houses of worship has dwindled, they are now active as centers for art, culture and community gathering. Our goal is to show how vital these buildings can be and how much they all offer the community."

The all volunteer group of organizers for the Festival welcome all exhibitors, non profits, businesses free display areas on streets to set up their tables (Must have their own tables and booths) as long as they register in advance and promise to leave the area clean.

There will be a rich array of entertainment. Each building will have a full schedule of music, theatre, performance, etc. There will also be street musicians, demonstrations and a chance to meet many of the talented artists in the area.

All events are free.

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